Can't speak to the issue of the machines as I've never seen this with Synesso or La Marzocco machines. I've used them on both formica and granite counters but the weight of the machine and the water in the boilers was always more than enough to keep them securely in place. An for grinders... if you can live with tapping some holes in your counter then run some long bolts with fender washers up through the counter form underneath and up into the four corners on the grinder base. Cut the bolts so they'll thread up through the rubber foot to replace the original screw that holds the foot on. I've seen this done with a Swift and it worked nicely.

I feel your pain. We have a Macap grinder that wanders quite badly, which is odd because our other does not. Having not yet found a (non-counter destroying) way to prevent the movement we have developed a weird 'hand in the way' action aside the intergral tamper. Still can't work out why it's only a problem on the one machine.

not sure what to do about the espresso machine, but i have found using anti-slip shelf liner works nicely to help eliminate the scooting grinder issue. taking it a step further, we'll usually rinse the liner with hot water before placing it on a clean surface, then set the grinder on top of it (the liner). The grinder stays in place for quite a while, at least until coffee begins to collect under the matting, slipping under our now dry water "seal".

Sandy Honsupervisor, coffee bar operationsJohnson County Community College

Wondering what to do with all those old logo mouse pads from back in the days of "mouse balls"? Great application for this and one mouse pad cut into 4 pieces will do an espresso machine, one whole one works for a grinder.

You could always try a very thin layer of silicone sealant on the machine legs. Just make sure they and the counter top is clean and dry and use a very small amount. Silicone is very strong but also doesn't do any permanent damage so you remove it all if need be.

Otherwise go with small rubber pads that you can buy in most homeware and hardware shops.

I like the mousepad idea, I think they are usually neoprene or EVA material. Nice and squishy.

The drawer liner idea is great as well, you can get some great drawer liners which are like a sticky mesh. Again nice and squishy and quite sticky.

I have velcro underneath all 4 legs of my 2-group Linea to keep it on the counter in case of earthquakes -- the shear strength of that stuff is amazing. It kept my machine in place during the 6.7 that hit in 2006, when the rest of my kitchen (and house for that matter) was practically destroyed. It also keeps the machine from wandering off of my composite countertop during regular use.

keeping the area clean is definitely a high standard in our cafes, yet even first thing in the morning before the first coffee of the day is even served, our grinders will scoot if nothing is placed under the feet. Perhaps the material of the counter tops would have something to do with the scooting issue, materials such as corian or formica that are a synthetic material that includes plastics.

I dunno, but i know for sure, it's not necessarily due to lack of clean area.

i'm just sayin, that's all.

Sandy Honsupervisor, coffee bar operationsJohnson County Community College

If you scrub the rubber feet clean and can get some of the tacky-ness back, and you have a clean counter free of crumbs, dead insects, chaff, silverskin, dead people skin, hair, teeth, toenail clippings, etc., you're usually more than 90% of the way there.

Attach a small piece of trim on the counter tracing out the left, right and back side of the machine. A physical barrier will work the best I think. Use something that looks slick, or decorative, depending on your mood, and screw it to the counter. The feet will rest up against the trim and keep the machine right in place all the time.